A/N: A Submission for Avatar: the Last Writer Competition

Team: Water Tribe

Round: Round 1

Category: Themed

Prompt: 9. (Event) A Wedding

Word count: 1,650

Firelord Zuko stared numbly at the letter he received earlier that morning:

You are invited to the wedding ceremony celebrating the love between

Aang, the Avatar, Master of all four elements

And

Katara, of the Southern Water Tribe, Master of Waterbending and Healing

to take place in two weeks' time at the Southern Air Temple

He couldn't believe his eyes the first time he read the stiff, white parchment, and reading it again hundreds of times hadn't helped to organize the mess of thoughts running through his head. Wasn't it only two months ago that Katara was here, at the palace, laying in his bed? Wasn't it only two months ago when she whispered those three words that made his whole world shift, to evolve around her?

"I love you," She'd said, and he returned the sentiment, only now it appears he was the only one that actually meant it.

When she'd left to travel with Aang, he'd thought nothing of it, he trusted her, he loved her! He thought Aang had gotten over his childhood crush on Katara years ago. She promised she'd be back before the firelillies started to bloom. Where had he gone wrong? He'd done everything he could to make sure she was comfortable in the palace. He offered to ship in furs and tapestries and decorations from the Water Tribes, to help her feel at home. He offered her places in his counsels and advisement boards, because he knew she'd never want to be a sit-here-and-look-pretty-housewife. He offered to extend invitations to her friends and family to stay at the palace for as long as they'd wish, so she wouldn't feel isolated.

His thoughts were racing in circles, trying to figure all of this out, but he couldn't make sense of any of it. Just yesterday, he'd sent her a letter telling her he couldn't wait for her to come home. Home. He felt like such a fool. This wasn't her home, this wasn't the lifestyle she'd have chosen for herself. He never could have made her happy here in the Fire Nation. He threw the invitation down on his desk, fingerprints singed into the edges of the ivory page, as he stormed off to pack for the trip to the Air Temple.

Firelord Zuko stepped off of his airship, wearing his finest robes. It was a warm day, but the breeze was crisp and cool at the Southern Air Temple. As he walked towards the crowd, he was pulled into a hug.

"Hey, Zuko! It's been so long, it's good to see ya, buddy!" Sokka practically yelled as he patted Zuko roughly on the back. They pulled away from the friendly embrace as Zuko replied,

"It's good to see you too, Sokka. Do you know where Katara is? Can I see her?" Sokka eyed Zuko for a few seconds, before finally answering his questions.

"Yeah, she's in the back getting ready with the other girls, I don't know if they'll let you come in there, but I suppose you could knock on the door to see if she'll come out. What's so important that you need to see her before the wedding anyway?"

"Thank you. It's just I—um…have a gift—a wedding present—that I wanted to give her. I-I'll just…I'll talk to you later, Sokka," Zuko stuttered out his lame excuse and began making his way towards the back of the temple.

He needed to see Katara with his own eyes, he needed to know she was okay, that she wanted to do this. With two weeks between receiving the invitation and arriving, he'd had plenty of time to think things over. He finally came to the realization that all he ever wanted was for her to be happy. If this was what she really wanted, he'd find a way to be okay with it. Besides, Aang was one of his best friends, and if he could trust anyone to take care of the woman he loves, it would be Aang.

Zuko came to an abrupt stop as he found himself in front of a door. This must be where the girls were getting ready, because he could hear voices and giggling through the stone wall. He took a deep breath and was about to knock on the door when he heard Toph's voice speaking loudly over the other girls.

"Hey, Sugar Queen! You've got a visitor out in the hallway." Immediately the voices died out, and Zuko almost felt bad for Katara, because surely everyone was staring at her as she made her way across the room.

Finally, the door creaked open, and Katara peeked out to see who it was, before she gasped and quickly slipped out, pulling the door closed behind her. She grabbed Zuko by his sleeve and dragged him down the hall, away from the room full of girls with their prying eyes and ears. She stopped, spun around, and leveled a glare so fierce, it could've melted her village, on Zuko.

"What do you think you're doing, Zuko? Coming all the way back here, do you want people to get suspicious of something? Aang doesn't…No one knows about—why are you here?" She couldn't bring herself to say the words aloud, but they both knew what she was talking about. Zuko, however, wasn't aware that what happened between them was supposed to be some dirty little secret. This made the wounds on his heart flare a little, but he ignored it and looked her in the eye.

"I came back here because I needed to see you. I just have to know that you're happy. I was completely caught off guard by that invitation, Katara, I don't why this is happening. But I don't need to. I don't want an explanation or any excuses. I just want to know that you're going to be okay." Zuko reached out to stroke her cheek, but paused, thinking better of it, and let his hand drop awkwardly between them. Katara's icy mask finally cracked, and her eyes softened at the gesture, even though he didn't go through with it.

"Zuko, I…" She trailed off, searching for the right words to say to the man she loved, then abandoned. "I want to do this. I have to do this. I think I will be happy…eventually. I'm so sorry about how you found out, how that must have felt," Her voice dropped to a whisper, eyes scanning their surroundings to make sure they were alone. "I did love you, Zuko. I never lied about any of it. I wish…I wish things could be different. But he was all alone. I hope you can understand." And he could understand. Immediately, it all clicked into place for Zuko.

"You don't have to do this, Katara. We're all adults now, you don't have to take care of him anymore. It's not too late to change your mind, to think of yourself for once." Zuko almost pleaded, knowing she would never put herself above anyone else, especially one of her friends.

"Zuko, stop! It is too late; can't you see that? You're here, at my wedding, I can't say no now. Either stay to support us, or just…just go, Zuko." With that, Katara turned and walked back towards the room where the other girls waited.

Zuko flinched when he heard the door slam closed behind her. After a few moments of stunned silence, the Firelord gathered himself enough to start heading back the way he came. He paused in front of the door that separated him from Katara and reached inside his robes to pull out the firelily he planned on giving her. He put in on the ground in front of the door and continued down the corridor towards the guests. He decided he'd stay long enough to watch Katara walk down the aisle, then he'd quietly make his way back to his airship. Just long enough to make sure she was going through with it, but he didn't want to watch the rest.

Zuko found a seat near the back, as he didn't want to cause a scene when he left. A few minutes passed, then music began to play, and Aang and the officiant stepped up to the altar. The bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle in time to the music and got into place up front.

Finally, Zuko's eyes landed on the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. Katara looked stunning in her dress, with her hair beaded and braided in a traditional Water Tribe style. The only thing standing out from her blue ensemble was the bright orange firelily she had weaved into her hair.

Zuko's heart lurched at the sight, as he yearned for a different wedding, a different time and place, with a happier ending. Zuko couldn't take his eyes off Katara as she slowly made her way to the altar. He wanted to drink in the sight of her, all dressed up, wearing blue, the color that belonged to her, because he was convinced there'd never be a beauty to behold that could compare to her that day. When Hakoda took his daughter's hand and gave it to Aang, Zuko tore his gaze away as if the sight burned him.

As quietly as possible, Zuko stood up from his seat and shuffled to the back of the room. He could hear the officiant beginning the ceremony, but he couldn't be bothered to listen to what was being said. With each step, it felt like a sword was being stabbed further and further into his heart. He didn't want Katara to go through with this, not when he knew she wasn't doing it for herself. Not when he knew there was a possibility that he could make her happier. He was about the exit the courtyard when suddenly he turned around, shocking even himself,

"Stop the wedding!"